Migration to Medina & Bond of Brotherhood

Nevertheless, whatever the reasons were, Hazrat Uthman (ra) returned from Abyssinia after some time. The mention of his migration to Medina and the forming of his bond of brotherhood is such that Muhammad bin Ja‘far bin Zubair relates that when Hazrat Uthman (ra) migrated from Mecca to Medina, he lived in the house of Hazrat Aus (ra) bin Thabit, brother of Hazrat Hassan (ra) bin Thabit from among the Banu Najjar tribe. Musa bin Muhammad relates from his father that the Holy Prophet (sa) established the bond of brotherhood between Hazrat Uthman (ra) and Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) bin Auf.

According to another narration, the bond of brotherhood was established between Hazrat Shaddad (ra) bin Aus’s father, Hazrat Aus (ra) bin Thabit and Hazrat Uthman (ra). It is also stated that the bond of brotherhood was established between Hazrat Abu Ubadah Saad (ra) bin Uthman Zuraqi and Hazrat Uthman (ra).

(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Uthman (ra) bin Affan [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi, 1996], p. 31)

According to one narration, the Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between himself and Hazrat Uthman (ra). There is a narration of Ibn Labibah in Al-Tabaqaat al-Kubra, which states that in his final days, when the enemy besieged Hazrat Uthman (ra) (i.e. when the enemy besieged him and imposed all kinds of restrictions on him), he peered from the window of a room above and enquired from the people if Talha was among them. They replied in the affirmative.

Hazrat Uthman (ra) enquired from Hazrat Talha, “I ask you whilst bearing witness to Allah, do you recall when the Holy Prophet (sa) was establishing bonds of brotherhood between the Muhajireen and Ansar; he established his bond of brotherhood with me?” In other words, the Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between him and Hazrat Uthman (ra).

Hazrat Talha (ra) replied, “By Allah, it is indeed true.” Upon this, the enemy, who had surrounded the house of Hazrat Uthman (ra), questioned Hazrat Talha (ra) as to why he had said that. With great courage, Hazrat Talha (ra) replied, “Hazrat Uthman (ra) called Allah as His witness when he asked me. And the matter which he enquired of me was one that had taken place before my very eyes; how could I have then not testified to it?”

(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, Dhikr ma Qila li Uthman fi al-Khud‘a [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihya al-Turath al-‘Arabi, 1996], p. 38)

He could not utter a lie and told them that they could oppose him however they wished.